Dungeons & Dragons is a game rife with iconic and memorable monsters that players can encounter throughout their adventures. While some monsters are more straightforward, others are able to employ more subtle and subversive tactics against adventurers, appearing less deadly than they actually are.
Many monsters of this nature tend to be shapechangers, monsters that through different means are capable of transforming between a variety of forms. Some monsters may shapeshift to hide their true form while others may access new abilities in combat while transformed. So today, we're going to examine the wide variety of shapeshifting monsters in Dungeons & Dragons and see which are the most deadly.
Updated October 31, 2021 by Paul DiSalvo: As D&D is constantly receiving updates several times a year, new powerful monsters are added to the game quite frequently. While many potent monsters have been added to the game this year, such as those introduced in Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft, few Dungeons & Dragons books have introduced quite as many devastatingly powerful monsters as Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons. A book containing many of the most deadly dragons in D&D history, as many of the most powerful dragons are capable of assuming various forms, it should be no surprise that many monsters from this book have earned their place on this list.
14 Oni
Toting a CR of 7, Oni are potent Ogres that are capable of casting spells such as Invisibility and Cone of Cold. Though these carnivorous monsters are known to eat humanoids, notably enjoying the act of devouring babies, they are frequently able to do so without arising panic or suspicion.
This is because an Oni is capable of altering its form to appear as any kind of small or medium humanoid, attempting to gain the trust of its prey during the day. It then makes its move at nightfall. Paired with its notably high +8 deception, uncovering an Oni is no easy feat.
13 Jiangshi
A new monster that was recently introduced in Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft, Jiangshi are potent undead that are capable of dealing substantial damage and even turning those it kills into wights and other Jiangshi.
While a Jiangshi has quite impressive combat stats, one of the scariest elements of a Jiangshi is the fact that one is unlikely to see it coming. All Jiangshi are capable of polymorphing itself into any beast, humanoid, or even another type of undead.
12 Slaads
Slaads are frog-like monsters that have been present in every edition in D&D's history, living within the realm of Limbo. While Slaads come in a variety of forms, Green, Gray, and Death Slaads are each powerful shapechangers in their own respective rights.
When these creatures are wreaking havoc on the material plane, they often assume small or medium humanoid forms that allow them to blend into urban environments with ease.
11 Yochlol
Ooze-like fiends with a CR of 10, Yochlol are shapechanging demons in the service of the iconic drow goddess, Lolth. With six damage resistances and one immunity, Yochlol are quite threatening through their damage output and access to spells such as Dominate Person. One of the most dangerous aspects of a Yochlol however is its numerous means of shapeshifting.
Not only can a Yochlol take the form of a female drow or a Giant Spider, but it can assume the form of a poisonous cloud that can incapacitate any creatures unfortunate enough to breathe it in.
10 Deva
The only celestial shapeshifter of noteworthy power, Devas serve as divine messengers and differ from the now popular race of Aasimar. They often choose to adopt mortal guises that allow them to blend into society.
Conversely to previous entries on this list, a Deva aims to perform acts of good and help those around them. They also deliver their messages where they're needed. In combat, a Deva makes for a stellar ally as it is capable of healing others with its healing touch ability, and even has access to Raise Dead.
9 Yuan-Ti Anathema
The monsterous Yuan-Ti Anathema is without question the most powerful form of the serpentine Yuan-Ti. Capable of assuming the form of a huge constrictor snake or its natural, multi-headed appearance, a Yuan-Ti Anathema is a dangerous foe with a CR of 12.
While this monster is able to restrain and slowly drain the life from its enemies, much of its strength is derived from its impressive spell list that contains the likes of Fear, Haste, Polymorph, and even the seventh-level Divine Word.
8 Vampire
Vampires are among some of the most iconic shapechangers in the fantasy genre set along Dungeons & Dragons. In the context of D&D, Vampires come in a variety of forms with the default version of the monster having a CR of 13 while Vampire Warriors and SPellcasters have a CR of 15.
Boasting a massive stat sheet, Vampires are incredibly flexible and difficult to put down, toting legendary resistances and regenerating lost health, all while having access to the abilities to summon allies and charm their enemies. In regards to their shapeshifting abilities, Vampires can assume the form of a bat or a cloud of mist, the latter of which it does automatically if its HP reaches 0.
7 Loup Garou
The Loup Garou is the most potent form of lycanthrope that is currently present in D&D, appearing as the most deadly form of werewolves alive. With a CR of 16, the Loup Garou can assume its original humanoid form, that of a Dire Wolf, or a hybrid of the two.
Due to its devastating Blood Frenzy that allows it to attack damaged creatures at advantage and its access to legendary actions, this lycanthrope can dish out substantial damage quite quickly. One of the most dangerous aspects of a Loup Garou is that if its lycanthropy is contracted, it is completely incurable as long as the Loup Garou that infected said creature is still alive.
6 Lesser Star Spawn Emissary
Another monster appearing in Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft, Star Spawn Emissaries are massive and nearly incomprehensible cosmic horrors from beyond the material reality. While these immensely powerful beings aim to alter the fundamentals of reality, when in their lesser forms, they aim to blend into the world, unnoticed.
This is no problem for these beings as they have access to some of the most flexible transformation potential of any creature in D&D. They are able to assume the form of any type of small or medium creature. Paired with its incredible +18 deception modifier, it is nearly impossible to pick out of a crowd.
5 Ancient Gem Dragons
Introduced to D&D’s fifth edition in Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons, Gem Dragons are traditionally neurally aligned dragons that have access to latent psionic and magical capabilities. Coming in a variety of forms, amethyst, crystal, emerald, sapphire, and topaz dragons are each deadly foes in their own right. While they have access to legendary resistances and devastating lair actions much like their metallic counterparts, in addition to being able to assume other forms like metallic dragons, they have flexibility that comes with their latent magical abilities and other tricky abilities such as teleportation. This can often make the ancient iterations of gem dragons are even more dangerous than ancient metallic dragons.
4 Ancient Metallic Dragons
Ancient Dragons are among the most powerful and iconic monsters that appear in D&D's Monster Manual. While each form of Metallic Dragon is good-aligned and unlikely to fight a party, each form of Ancient Metallic Dragons are capable of polymorphing themselves into humanoids and beasts.
The manner in which these dragons shapeshift varies from species to species, as Silver Dragons will often join adventuring parties while shape-changed. In contrast, Gold Dragons will subtly help those in need.
3 Gem Greatwyrm
Greatwyrms are the ultimate forms that dragons can assume, transcending the power of ancient dragons and rivaling the might of the avatars of gods. While they can avoid any and all suspicion by taking any visual form they choose, they always maintain their combative statistics. WIth a massive pool of over 500 HP, these dragons automatically regain 400 HP the first time their HP is depleted, they have access to impressive spells like Time Stop, and they can even restrain any objects within 120 feet of itself via its Mass Telekinesis ability.
2 Metallic Greatwyrm
Even more deadly than Gem Greatwyrms, Metallic Greatwyrms are Metallic Dragons whose power and status has been elevated by Bahamut himself, allowing them to obtain power comparable to that of a god. WIth even more HP and a higher damage output than their Gem counterparts, these dragons are capable of producing absurdly large AOE effects that can deal massive amounts of damage or cause creatures to fall unconscious unless they can succeed a DC 25 constitution saving throw.
As is the case with Gem Greatwyrms, these dragons can use their bonus action to indefinitely assume any form they wish, allowing them to appear as dangerous or unsuspecting as they may wish.
1 Aspect Of Bahamut
The physical manifestation of the Platinum Dragon, the god of Metallic Dragons himself, the Aspect of Bahamut isn’t just the strongest shape changer in D&D—it’s one of the strongest monsters to appear in the entire game. With a well-deserved challenge rating of 30, the Aspect of Bahamut’s breath can either decimate its enemies with severe radiant damage, or be used to replenish the health of its allies. Alongside mythic actions that allow it to protect itself with its Celestial Shield, gaining yet even more HP, or bombard its enemies with four Celestial Lances, each of which deals 7d6 force damage. As Bahamut often prefers to take on unassuming forms such as that of a monk, despite being one of the most powerful beings in D&D, the Apsct of Bahamut can easily travel without arousing suspicion.